Moebius Nature Center

05/29/2026

Do you plant according to moon phases? Or maybe just appreciate the nearly full moon rising? Either way, we have a great stretch of weather for night sky viewing!

Now is the time to plant! 🌱 The full Moon peaks on Sunday, May 31, and according to folklore, the time just before the full Moon is considered the best for planting because the earth is particularly wet... Especially during drought conditions 🌵 Learn more Moon lore at Almanac.com/farming-moon

05/28/2026

Best advice! Keep your distance. Monitor if you are concerned, but allow a day or more before you intervene.

For this , we're talking about Ohio's cutest residents - the ones you may see curled up in your backyard around this time of year🦌

You may be asking yourself, "what do I do if I see a baby animal left alone in my yard?" (Great question by the way). Here are some things you need to know:
- Wildlife parents often leave their nest or young in a location they consider safe while they forage or hunt nearby.
- A parent is almost always nearby and will come back as needed to feed and care for them.
- The best thing for you to do is keep your distance (and be proud that your yard feels safe for wildlife!)

05/27/2026

Very cool!

Fun Facts About Snails:

-The world's smallest snail is .03 inches tall, small enough to fit through the eye of a needle.

-Garden snails move at a top speed of about a half an inch a minute.

-There are around 43,000 species of snails

-Snails live just about everywhere and can be found on land and in both fresh and salt water.

-The largest snail is the giant whelk, they can grow a shell length of over 27 inches!

-While most snails are harmless, some snails are venomous.

05/26/2026

Ready for more birds? One of our resident master birders, Jim Tomko, sends these beautiful photos from Old Woman's Creek in Huron, OH last week.

05/25/2026

Remember with gratitude.

⭐ Honoring Heroes on Memorial Day ❤️🤍💙
🦅 This Memorial Day, we encourage you to take a moment and honor the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. While enjoying our freedom in exploring the outdoors and making connections to wildlife, we are reminded that loss tinges the lives of Gold Star families across the country. 💔
📷 Doug Wensink

05/24/2026

There are still many opportunities to see migrating birds. How about this 'gulp' of Cormorants at Sunny Lake this week? So much fun to watch. 😍

05/23/2026

World Turtle Day! 💚🐢

05/22/2026

What a great resource for some local exploration!

05/21/2026

On this International Day for Biological Diversity, a short list of easy action steps you can take!

Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to global biodiversity. This International Day for Biological Diversity, the Invasive Species Centre is encouraging Canadians to take action to help prevent their spread.

You can help protect biodiversity by:

- Choosing native plants for your garden. Some popular garden plants are actually invasive and can spread into natural areas and outcompete native species.
- Never releasing pets or plants. Invasive species can be introduced into natural ecosystems intentionally or accidentally. To prevent this, research pets you may want to bring into your home to ensure you can properly care for them throughout their lifespan.
- Reporting invasive species sightings to [EDDMapS.org](http://eddmaps.org/) or the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711 (Ontario). Early detection helps support rapid response and management efforts.
- Cleaning, draining, and drying your watercraft before entering or leaving a waterbody. Invasive species can hitchhike on trailers, motors, and equipment or survive in standing water such as bait buckets, live wells, and bilges.
- Buying and burning firewood locally. Moving firewood can spread invasive insects and diseases to new areas, even over short distances.

Learn more and access resources at www.invasivespeciescentre.ca/resources

05/20/2026

Help Eagle Scout Alex Crawford reach his fundraising goal to buy four new picnic tables and repair and stain the existing tables in the Moebius Nature Center pavilion. Small donations add up — please give to help preserve a welcoming community outdoor space for families, students, and local groups.

I am Alex Crawford, a Life Scout in Aurora, OH Troop 269, working toward my Eagle Scout rank. My Eagle Scout project focuses on improving the outdoor seating at Moebius Nature Center by adding four new picnic tables and repairing the existing ones. Moebius Nature Center in Aurora is a place where pe...

05/19/2026

Weather dependent, but looks like quite a show!

✨🌒 On the evening of May 19, the Moon hangs between Venus and Jupiter in the western sky, and together they reveal something you don't usually see: the ecliptic, the plane of our solar system.

All three objects trace a line from the west-northwest horizon upward, marking the flat disk along which Earth, Venus, Jupiter, and all the other planets orbit the Sun. Venus blazes below at magnitude -3.9. Jupiter shines above at magnitude -1.9. A 15% crescent Moon, earthshine glowing on its dark side, connects them.

🔭 Look west about 45 to 60 minutes after sunset. Venus appears first, even in bright twilight. Jupiter reveals itself as the sky darkens. The crescent Moon connects them. No equipment needed. Binoculars will enhance the earthshine and may pick up one or two of Jupiter's Galilean moons as tiny dots near the planet.

📸 Wide-angle photographs of this scene are stunning. A phone on a tripod with a 3 to 5 second exposure can capture all three objects, the earthshine, and the background stars of Gemini.